When Justice Fails

It's hard for anyone, even Jeff Fahey, to carry an unskilled amateur like Marlee Matlin through a film. He tries, to his credit. Matlin is essentially a character actress who can (what a surprise) manage a "handicapped" character, but her essentially zero range and inability to hold anyone's attention should keep her out of major roles like this one. This is about the third movie she's ruined, and I for one am getting tired of it. Soon she'll b e like Ed Asner -- an early warning to "skip this film."

This one isn't awful, but it isn't worth watching unless there's absolutely nothing on anywhere else.

Gotta wonder about Jeff Fahey and Marlee Matlin.

Here are two decent actors – expressive, appealing, hard-working – who went from enjoyable network series shows to substandard direct-to-video fare while seemingly at the top of their game.

"When Justice Fails" isn't as bad as some of their other DTV pictures – just try to sit through Fahey's "Absolute Zero" all the way through – but it requires too much patience and forgiveness from the viewer, without working hard enough to deserve it.

Fahey's a hard-boiled homicide detective and Matlin is a D.A. who somehow becomes the suspect in a spate of serial killings.

The movie begins to deteriorate once Fahey inevitably becomes romantically involved with Matlin, and yet, remains the lead detective on the case. Really, that's OK with the cops? Aside from a few "Yer throwin' yer career down the toilet!" admonitions from his scene-chewing captain, nobody seems to be too concerned about the really huge conflict of interest there.

Tsk-tsking the situation occasionally, too, is his new partner, who announces early on that he's gay, because Not That There's Anything Wrong With That.

As the movie chugs along, it becomes a decent, if pedestrian whodunit, as we're made to wonder if the killer might be Matlin, her creepy sign-language interpreter, her wacko diva mother, or even Fahey's partner.

The reveal isn't very surprising and only somewhat satisfying, as it leaves so many other questions unanswered.

Aside from Fahey and Matlin, who are charming as usual, most of the other actors are hammy and unappealing. The one exception is Canadian actor Carl Marotte as Fahey's partner, who has a pleasant Zachary Quinto aura about him.

The direction is heavy-handed and obvious. At one point, the camera shook so badly for no discernible reason, I wondered whether the cameraman may have zipped his fly with one hand and held the camera with the other.

If you're a fan of Fahey's or Matlin's it's worth a watch. Otherwise, "When Justice Fails" fails.

When Justice Fails is about a couple of cops that track down a kinky murderer. The movie runs pretty smoothly from start to finish and has some good acting. Maitlin plays a troubled prosecutor that cop Fahey falls for. No reason to question that, she's great. Some high profile murders keep the cops running. Fahey's tough guy gay partner is a character unto himself in this film, a mild Dirty Harry type in the NYPD Blue kind of setting, but a good guy. Some good twists and turns as the cops suspect everyone in the film of being the murderer. Finally, Fahey figures out who it is and that brings us to the end of the film. If you want fast paced action, go somewhere else. If you want an OK crime drama, this is a good one.

Check out the incredible Title Sequence. Marlee Maitlin does her best role since Children of a lesser God. If you haven't see this movie yet, RENT IT.

Jeff Fahey leads a brilliant cast, including Montreal native Carl Morotte.

I'm not sure that anyone could be charitable enough to say that this is a great movie. The writing is fairly trite, and any high-schooler with a C average could see the "twists" coming a mile away. But to fault Marlee Matlin for it (and I do realize that was done some time ago), and in such insulting terms? Unnecessary.

First, character actors do important work, so attempting to slander one by using the term is pointless. A low number of leading roles does not necessarily indicate a lack of success. Also, categorizing her as an amateur? An Academy Award for her first movie role ever (in 1986), then a number of years in standout *character* roles to a great deal of critical acclaim (ever heard of The West Wing?) - that certainly doesn't add up to a rookie career.

What was most insulting, though, was the "what a surprise" comment. Why focus on an actor's disability just because you don't care for them? Admittedly, Marlee Matlin would be unable to play a character without a disability - there's no way to hide deafness, or an inability to speak without a deaf "accent." But she is eloquent, expressive, and impossible to ignore in most any part. Uninformed, prejudiced comments can't take that away from her.